Customers were hoodwinked by a Horbury kitchen fitter by money that cost thousands in home improvements that never came to be. This may make any household wary of trusting Kitchen Fitters, but although there are trustworthy companies out there that already have a solid reputation, it is always best to do a background check beforehand.
Robert Cooper, aged 61, of RCA Home Designs, received payments for kitchens and bathrooms that he was suppose to fit from various residents from coming from the West and South part of Yorkshire. He had specifically conned six from Wakefield and three from Leeds.
His victims, unaware of his wide range of schemes, would take a flyer via their doors and then call for an estimate according to Trading Standards, who had began receiving complaints from a number of his customers since 2011.
Once he succeeds in getting a customer’s attention, Cooper would take some measurements, then requests for a considerable amount of cash and then would set out a myriad of reasons why he could not do the work within the fixed timeframe of six to eight weeks to finish the fitting.
It has resulted to a number of complaints filed to the company and the police. When it did not work out, they resorted to go to court.
A representative of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, David Lodge, has said that Cooper could have created for himself a legal and profitable business but unfortunately decided to resort to fleecing customers of their money without any intention of doing any sort of work.
He also urged customers to take extra caution when it comes to receiving any flyers delivered from their doorsteps and not let themselves be easily swayed by cons into believing everything they say and giving them money.
Cooper has since come clean about committing fraud when he emerged at Leeds Crown Court last Monday. Running the business from his former home located in School Lane, he agreed to continue on with a business with the intention of swindling customers. His business ran from June 2010 to January 2013.
The case was adjourned and the judge bailed Cooper on the proviso to not receive any considerable finances for future work from the day of his bail all the way up to his sentence.
This goes without saying that it is very important to only choose trusted Kitchen Fitters, which have a solid background and clear reputation. Another way to check is to make sure that all their employees are licensed, with proper IDs and permits.
